Carnival tests 'all-you-can-drink' alcohol package

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

CAPTION

Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines

Add industry giant Carnival to the list of lines offering "all-you-can-drink" alcohol packages.The world's largest cruise company this month has begun testing a nearly $50 per day package on the Carnival Victory that gives buyers access to unlimited wine, beer and spirits as well as sodas and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails.
The "My Awesome Bar Program" package, as it's being called, costs $42.95 per person per day plus an automatic 15% gratuity of $6.44 and can be used to order all wines by the glass, beer and individual cocktails priced at $10 and lower. Full bottles of wine and champagne, as well as wines by the glass, beers and individual cocktails priced above $10, are available at a 25% discount.

RELATED:  Royal Caribbean adds all-you-can-drink Coke machines
PHOTO TOUR:  Look inside Carnival's newest ship

A caveat: Each passenger ages 21 years and over in the same cabin must purchase the beverage package -- a rule presumably enacted to prevent cabin mates from "sharing" a package. Passengers under 21 cannot buy the package as passengers must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol on Carnival ships.
Passengers can sign up for the package at Carnival Victory's atrium and casino bars, as well as a bar within the main pool area.
Carnival's move comes a year after rival Royal Caribbean rolled out all-you-can-drink alcohol packages on three ships based overseas. Celebrity Cruises unveiled all-you-can-drink packages fleetwide in 2010.
A spokesperson for Carnival tells USA TODAY the line hasn't decided whether it will add the new alcohol package on its 23 other ships.

Sojourn from Seabourn Cruise Line

An intimate, 450-passenger vessel catering to well-heeled travelers, Seabourn Sojourn arrived on the scene in 2010, making it the second youngest in Seabourn’s fleet of six small ships. According to Seabourn, the Sojourn is nearly identical to sisters Seabourn Oddysey and Seabourn Quest (launched in 2009 and 2011 respectively), and the ships spend the year exploring fairly exotic ports of call, many of which aren’t found on the itineraries of the bigger lines. The staff to guest ratio is quite high—just 1.3 passengers for each crewmember on our cruise—and the ship also offers more space per passenger than other luxury lines. Seabourn charges a premium for its cruises, but the package comes with lots of extras, notably all tips and most beverages. There are no surcharges for “specialty” restaurants, and even the internet rates are considerably less than on mainstream cruise lines. So we were primed to evaluate not only just how good the Seabourn experience might be, but also to how the final tab compared with other cruises.

News Article : Princess Cruises

6/7/2012
Princess Cruises Honored for Environmental Efforts by Ports of San Francisco and Victoria
Awards Cite Emission Reduction, Wastewater Management, Recycling and Disposal Programs

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 6, 2012) -- Princess Cruises has been honored by the ports of San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Canada, with awards for the cruise line's environmental efforts.

The Port of San Francisco's Cruise Ship Environmental Award was presented to Sea Princess and Sapphire Princess. The ships earned this distinction during the 2011 season for air emissions reduction, advanced wastewater management, and recycling and disposal programs. Both vessels plugged into the port's new shoreside power system, the first to be implemented in California."

Introduced in 2005, this annual award recognizes cruise ships that exceed environmental regulations and industry standards to greater protect air and water quality. Cruise ships visiting San Francisco four or more times a year that demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding the environment are considered for this award. Princess Cruises ships based in San Francisco have earned this prestigious accolade in each of the last seven years.

The Victoria, B.C. Ogden Point Eco Award recognizes cruise lines who go above and beyond in their efforts to reduce emissions while in the port of Victoria, including using low-sulfur fuel. The award cited four Princess ships that called in Victoria during 2011 -- Golden Princess, Island Princess, Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess.

"We are always gratified when our ships are recognized for making a difference in local environmental efforts," said Rai Caluori, Princess' executive vice president of fleet operations. "It is important to us that stunning ports such as San Francisco and Victoria continue to offer passengers the natural beauty they come to experience."

Princess Cruises is committed to environmental practices which set a high standard for excellence and responsibility, and which help preserve the marine environment in which its ships operate. The company's environmental goals and policies go beyond what is required by law and include a zero solid waste discharge policy, state-of-the-art environmental technology and waste management equipment, programs to minimize waste generated, and recycling where possible. The company also pioneered the use of shore power programs in the cruise industry to reduce air emissions.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through Nan Smith Cruises & Travel 800-432-5577 949-673-9485 www.nansmithcruises.com

Crystal - 2013 Destination Highlights:

2013 Destination Highlights:

Crystal Serenity’s annual World Cruise, a 74-day exotic South America exploration offered in four unique segments from 12-24 days
A 98-day grand adventure touring Australasia traveling from Auckland to Los Angeles, also available in eight unique segments from 7- to 18-days
A May 26, 2013 overnight in Monte Carlo coincides with the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, with excellent Crystal Adventures to witness the event in grand style
Plus, cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai and St. Petersburg are explored with two overnights, giving you three days to discover the treasures of legendary destinations

Celebrity Reflection

When it debuts, the 5.5-star Celebrity Reflection will be the fifth and final ship in Celebrity's popular Solstice class. Now-familiar Solstice-class features, such as the Lawn Club and AquaSpa are represented, along with new venues such as the Lawn Club Grill; The Alcoves, a cabana-style retreat; and the Art Studio, with hands-on instruction in things like painting, drawing, beading, mixology and cooking.
New AquaClass Suites feature 40-inch LCD televisions, large verandas and the service of a butler. Guests staying in these suites receive priority seating at the exclusive Blu restaurant, and unlimited access to AquaSpa facilities, including the Persian Garden and Relaxation Room.

Royal Princess,

Innovative features aboard the 5-star Royal Princess include the SeaWalk, a glass-floored, enclosed walkway that extends from the ship's top deck and the SeaView Bar, also with a glass floor and cantilevered out from the port side of the ship. Also on the top deck is Princess' largest-ever onboard pool. At night, guests can enjoy a water and light show here.
The Royal Princess boasts an enhanced Movies Under the Stars screen and several new dining venues, such as the Ocean Terrace seafood bar and Gelateria, serving Italian-inspired gelato. All oceanview cabins on the Royal Princess feature private balconies, and mini-suites and suites each have two flat-screen televisions, a spacious closet and a bathtub.

Carnival Destiny

Currently sailing as the Carnival Destiny, this ship will undergo an extreme makeover before emerging as the 4.5-star Carnival Sunshine. As part of the revitalization, two decks will be expanded and a new partial deck will be added.
Seven new restaurants, including Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina and Cucina del Capitano will be added, as well as 10 new bars and lounges, 182 cabins, the Sport Square recreation complex, the kids-free Serenity area and Punch liner Comedy Club.

Celebrity European Specials Free Veranda Upgrade on Selected Sailings

Experience exhilarating views from your own private haven. From historic city skylines to breathtaking landscapes. From ionic architecture to moonlit mountains. Expand your perspective on a Europe vacation with a free inside to veranda stateroom upgrade.

Experience exhilarating views from your own private haven. From historic city skylines
to breathtaking landscapes. From iconic architecture to moonlit mountains. Expand your
perspective on a Europe vacation with a free inside t o veranda stateroom upgrade.
11- to 13-Night Italy & Croatia, Adriatic, and Mediterranean vacations
onboard Celebrity Silhouette
2012 Sail Dates: May 18; Jun. 2 4; Jul. 5, 17; Aug. 10, 22
Veranda Starting from $799õ*
10- & 11-Night Eastern Mediterranean vacations
onboard Celebrity Equinox.
2012 Sail Dates: Jun. 1, 2 2; Jul. 2, 13, 23; Aug. 3, 13
Veranda Starting from $799õ*
12-Night Mediterranean & Venice and Mediterranean & Greek Isles vacations
onboard Celebrity Solstice
2012 Sail Dates: Jun. 28; Jul. 10 , 22; Aug. 3, 27
Veranda Starting from $1 ,049õ*
Book now, this is a limited time offer. Book your veranda stateroom at inside stateroom rates
between April 27 and May 6, 2012, and be transported far from the ordinary on a Europe
vacation that will leave you completely restored and renewed.

Call Nan Smith Cruises  949-673-9485

Princess 2 for 1 special March 20,2012 till March 26

 

Muster Crackdown: Cruise Line Boots Passengers for Skipping Lifeboat Drill - Holland America Line

February 1, 2012

Muster Crackdown: Cruise Line Boots Passenger for Skipping Lifeboat Drill

(2:30 p.m. EST) -- Are cruise lines getting tough when it comes to muster drills? A passenger on Holland America's Westerdam was made to debark Sunday in Port Everglades for "non-compliance" during the mandatory drill, in which passengers are told what to do in the case of emergency (including how to don a life jacket). The drill took place on Sunday afternoon just before Westerdam departed on a weeklong jazz-themed charter cruise. Member Blazeconsultingposted the news on the Cruise Critic message boards, and Holland America confirmed the debarkation. The poster stated that multiple passengers were debarked, but HAL countered that only one guest was involved. "The drill included alarm blasts and announcements throughout the ship, including instructions that failure to participate would result in disembarkation," said the line in a statement sent to Cruise Critic. The statement did not mention if there were other circumstances surrounding the debarkation, and HAL has declined to comment further on what "non-compliance" means. Some Cruise Critic readers have recently pointed to a new pre-sail warning. "It was announced that anyone who refused to attend would not be allowed to sail," posted member Himself (currently on Nieuw Amsterdam) on the boards. Other Holland America veterans said the line is now taking roll call at the muster stations, a policy that it had discontinued. In an e-mail, Holland America spokeswoman Sally Andrews confirmed that HAL's muster drills now include roll calls as well as "passenger announcements [that] refer to the fact that failure to participate may result in disembarkation, as was the case with this incident." The policy changes come in the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster, which has sparked vigorous debate about cruise line safety protocols. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a U.N. agency tasked with improving maritime safety, requires that a passenger ship must hold a muster drill within 24 hours of embarkation. The vast majority of cruise lines, however, fulfill the stipulation before departure. (For more on the drill, see our story on the mystery of the muster.) But while the IMO states that musters are a must, enforcement may be another story. "The only enforceable piece is that the ship completes the passenger muster as required," said Lt. Cmdr. Dan Brehm of the U.S. Coast Guard's Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise. "What they do to the passengers who don't show up is a company policy at that point." In an interview with Frommers , Ben Lyons, former safety and chief officer on Cunard's Queen Mary 2, and current chief officer for Lindblad, said the way individual lines take attendance and follow up on those who aren't there varies. "Not all lines use an emergency system that relies upon an actual roll call; instead, they have crew search all areas of the ship," Lyons told the publication. "If nobody is found, then everyone must be in the muster stations. In that scenario, a roll call will not be taken. (In a real situation, however, it is likely their method of searching would also be supplemented by an actual roll call.) Some lines that take roll calls and identify those who skipped the drill will hold a special meeting or drill the next morning; other cruise lines simply ignore the fact that you didn't attend." According to HAL's cruise contract, it appears that the line has always had the right to debark muster missers. Section 6 of the General Provisions, "Authority to Remove Passengers," states that passengers can "be denied transportation either before or during the cruise ... in situations where, [for example] you fail to abide by the rules or orders of the Master or other ship's officers." Attendance at the muster drill comes as an order of the master. Cruise Critic reached out to a number of lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines, to see how or if their muster policies have changed and how they enforce non-compliance. Only Harrison Liu -- speaking on a behalf of sister lines Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara Club Cruises -- responded. "Our three core brands haven't changed our muster drill policy and enforcement," Liu told Cruise Critic in an e-mail. "We wouldn't and haven't disembarked any guest as a result of missing the muster drill. Our staff and crew are empowered to engage our guests, convince them of the importance of this safety measure, and ensure compliance." We've also left messages by phone and e-mail with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruising's largest trade organization, to determine whether the industry's approach to muster drills is changing. --by Dan Askin, News Editor